By Denise Grayes, Business Wire
Each week, Business Wire brings you the latest changes and updates in the PR industry. To learn more about each news item, simply click the hyperlink. Have your own update to include? Let us know!
Austin
Cooksey Communications recently announced that Michelle Frith Hargis is rejoining the team to establish the firm’s Austin presence. Article
Crosswind Media & Public Relations announced its ranking as the top agency in Texas for healthcare clients, according to the O’Dwyer’s annual survey of U.S. PR Firms. Article
Boston
HB Agency will combine with Eric Mower + Associates to create integrated agency with more than 250 professionals and estimated 2015 capitalized billings approaching $250 million. Article
Duffy & Shanley has added jewelry brand Luca + Danni to its client roster. Article
3BL Media announced the acquisition of ReportAlert, a corporate responsibility and sustainability report announcement and dissemination service founded in 2005. Article
marlo marketing announced an array of new food and beverage clients. Article
PARTNERS+simons announced the strategic hires of Jessie Cross and Elizabeth Giuggio as Associate Creative Directors. Article
March Communications has expanded its team of professionals in the Boston office. Article
Charlotte
French/West/Vaughan has been selected by K4Connect to provide public relations support for its debut platform, K4Community. Article
French/West/Vaughan has acquired a 50 percent interest in Hispanic PR, marketing and branded content agency RGAA PR, which was started by PR industry veteran Raul Gonzalez in 2011. Article
Chicago
Astellas Pharma has named Jamie McGarvey as senior manager, employee communications, within the corporate affairs department. Article
Rob Palmer is the new vice president of government relations at WPS Health Solutions. Article
Henson Consulting is now nationally certified by The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Article
Marvin Windows and Doors has named VSA Partners its new marketing and advertising agency of record. Article
Cleveland
The Kroger Co. has named Jessica Adelman as group vice president of corporate affairs. Article
CareSource has named Jenny Michael as Vice president, marketing and corporate communications. Article
Tyler Durbin has been named Geben Communication‘s new director of business strategy. Article
Dallas
The Frisco Consulting Group has launched to help business owners avoid marketing pitfalls and grow. Article
DC
Denise Hill, an assistant professor in Elon University‘s School of Communications and the former vice president of communications at Delhaize America, joined APCO Worldwide’s International Advisory Council (IAC). Article
Veteran producers Marcela Salazar and Ben Geldon and communications specialist Emma Shapiro have joined SKDKnickerbocker to support the firm’s corporate and non-profit clients. Article
GYMR Public Relations has added several new clients, including The Advisory Board Company, Child Life Council, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Physician Advocacy Institute, and the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine. Article
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention has named Anthony Lakavage senior vice president, global external affairs. Article
The Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA) announced that Ted Godbout has joined DCIIA as Director of Communications and Public Relations. Article
The Glover Park Group has added Jocelyn Moore to its government relations practice as a managing director. Article
Crosby Marketing Communications has been selected by Sheppard Pratt Health System to provide strategic marketing services and help build the awareness and impact of its growing continuum of specialized mental health services. Article
Ketchum has begun work on a $400k PR assignment to improve the beleagured Honduras‘ government’s global reputation. Article
The Beer Institute has hired Denise Dunckel as vice president, public affairs. Article
GYMR Public Relations has promoted Mike Warner to senior vice president. In addition, Amy Martin Vogt has been promoted to vice president; Lauren Musiol and Haydn Bush have been promoted to managing supervisor; and Frank Walsh has been promoted to account supervisor. Article
Stanton Communications has promoted Lori Russo to president. Article
Bully Pulpit Interactive has brought on Ann Marie Habershaw as COO. Article
ConnellyWorks announced that the company has moved its headquarters to the Courthouse area of Arlington, Virginia. Article
Consumer Reports has hired Daniel Cluchey as Executive Speechwriter and Advisor. Article
TVP Communications has promoted Kyle Gunnels to Assistant Vice President. Article
Denver
Grayling has hired Roy Palmer as senior advisor to the state and federal government affairs practice. Article
Los Angeles
Kathy Savitt has been named president of digital media at STX Entertainment. Article
Skydance has named Shannon Olivas as senior vice president of corporate communications. Article
NATPE has appointed Matt Palmer to the newly created position of chief marketing officer. Article
Golin CEO Fred Cook has been named director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s Strategic Communication and Public Relations Center (SCPRC). Article
BLAZE announced the addition of Yuneec‘s E-GO electric skateboard to its roster. Article
Murphy O’Brien Public Relations announced three new clients joining its Travel collection: The St. Regis Monarch Beach, Hotel Zephyr and HKS Hospitality Group. Article
Guitar Center announced the appointment of Frank Crowson to the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Guitar Center brand. Article
Audi of America announced that Bianca Bucciarelli has joined the company as West Coast Lifestyle Communications Manager. Article
Shout! Factory has promoted four veteran Shout executives: David McIntosh to senior vice president of business affairs and digital distribution; Melissa Boag to senior vice president of kids & family entertainment; Jordan Fields to vice president of acquisitions; and Tom Chen to vice president of publicity. Article
PMK*BNC announced the promotions of Daniel Martinez to Executive Vice President, Brand and Entertainment Marketing, as well as Joanne Melzer to Senior Vice President, Insights & Analytics. Article
Miami
JeffreyGroup has named Brian Burlingame as its new CEO. Article
Fish Consulting has added four new clients to its growing roster, including Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies, World of Beer, Great Clips and Tin Drum Asiacafé. Article
rbb Public Relations is changing its name to rbb Communications. Article
Hill+Knowlton Strategies has acquired Brazilian public relations, advertising, digital and content firm Ideal, while H+K’s WPP sister agency Ogilvy Public Relations has acquired a majority stake in ConceptPR, a Brazilian public relations and digital content firm. Article
JeffreyGroup has opened its seventh wholly-owned office in the Brazilian capital city of Brasilia. Article
3AWORLDWIDE recently named Brenda Sandoval the company’s new Director of Agency Alliances. Article
Minneapolis
Jason Sprenger, president of the Minneapolis-based PR agency Game Changer Communications, announced the public debut of his new Umbrella Model of Public Relations-an innovative way for anyone inside or outside the PR industry to visualize, describe and apply principles of public relations. Article
Gage announced today the hiring of Alisia Davis and Kasey Wellman who will both work on projects for Microsoft. Article
Nashville
Ackermann PR has hired Tommy Smith as vice president of marketing strategy. Article
FleishmanHillard has expanded its crisis communications practice with the launch of FH 2020, a digital media crisis management solution designed to help businesses prepare for, anticipate, detect and mitigate crises in real-time through a combination of people, processes and technologies. Article
Newport Beach
TVGear has selected Bob Gold & Associates to lead its PR activities and help launch its new site, TVGear.com. Article
New York
Amy Palladino has been named senior director of corporate communications by Heineken USA. Article
Debra Forman has been promoted to president of Ketchum Digital. Article
Makovsky has appointed Lee Davies, senior vice president, as director of client services, health practice. Article
MWW Public Relations announced that Matthew Holland has joined the firm’s New York office as senior vice president, corporate healthcare practice. Article
Robin Bigelli will join Falcon & Wolf as senior vice president, brand programs. Article
Lexington Realty Trust has named Claire Koeneman, executive vice president and head of the US central region at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, to its board of trustees. Article
Kwittken has been named North American public relations agency of record for Pantone. Article
Corbin-Hillman Communications announced that the agency has added three new clients to its AOR roster: GoViral, Inc.‘s Diply.com, Zazen Bear and Tommy John. Articl
CRC has been named the agency of record for Nicole Andrews Collection. Article
NBCUniversal has named Caley Gray to the newly created position of vice president, communications, in the NBCUniversal Content Distribution Group. Article
Zeno Group has named John Kerr as its first chief digital officer. Article
Global Strategy Group has hired Glen Caplin as senior vice president. Article
Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations has been named agency of record for Canyon Ranch. Article
Bullfrog + Baum has been named agency of record for Washington, DC-based restaurants Ripple and Roofers Union. Article
Chic Influence has signed celebrity fashion stylist Irma Martinez. Article
Feintuch Communications and Roher Public Relations have joined forces to offer clients expanded senior talent and breadth of services. Article
Finn Partners has acquired Horn Group. Article
MSLGroup has hired Edelman’s Ron Guirguis as CEO of its US operation. Article
Ogilvy Public Relations has expanded its executive committee and is creating a new world-wide board. Article
Giorgio Armani has promoted Garine Zerounian to the role of senior vice president of communications for North America, replacing Rod Manley, who recently took up a new role as executive vice president, global communications, for Calvin Klein. Article
The Glover Park Group has hired Paul Hicks as a managing director in the firm’s New York office. Article
Ogilvy Public Relations has named Kerry Sette executive vice president/research director of the research group, based in New York. Article
Porter Novelli’s AIM Sports Reputation Management has introduced a suite of services to help collegiate and professional football players engage on social media without unintended reputational damage to their team’s image. Article
General Electric has named longtime public relations and marketing executive Beth Comstock as company vice chair leading GE Business Innovations. Article
Leslie Campisi has joined the Publicis-owned MSLGroup to lead its digital practice in New York. Article
The Associated Press has launched a division to help brands promote their content and services. The AP Content Services group will offer content-creation and delivery services with the goal of boosting brand awareness and enhancing engagement, it said in a statement. Article
Ruder Finn announced the hire of Sarah Anderson as Executive Vice President and Head of the U.S. Consumer Practice. Article
Madison County Tourism has selected Keegan Associates Marketing & Communications to provide marketing and public relations support for a three-year period beginning in 2015, the Madison County Courier reports. Article
Prosek Partners has been named “Best North American Public Relations Company” by Hedgeweek. Article
The O’Hara Project is searching nationwide for a nonprofit organization to add to their pro bono client list. Article
JONESWORKS announced their representation of Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity. Article
Brandstyle Communications has recently announced representation of Fashion to Figure. Article
Didit announced the acquisition of the marketing and advertising firm Berwald Creativet. Article
London Misher Public Relations announces that Samantha Wenig has been named Vice President. Article
Philadelphia
Local Life Agents (LLA) has hired Flackable as their integrated communications agency of record. Article
Managing Editor Inc (MEI) announced today the promotion of Mark Leister to senior vice president and managing director. Article
Cohn & Wolfe announced the appointment of Laura Ryan as Managing Director of the agency’s U.S. Corporate Practice. Article
Phoenix
Sierra Nevada Corporation has hired Brooke Salkoff as corporate director of communications. Article
Ferraro Group has hired Rachel Wright as a public relations account executive. Article
Blue Global Media announced the promotion of Evette Cecena to director of marketing. Article
San Diego
Jessie Knight, executive vice president of external affairs for Sempra Energy and chairman of Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric, will retire November 1. Steven Davis has been elected to succeed Knight as executive vice president of external affairs and corporate strategy for Sempra Energy. Article
San Francisco
The Blueshirt Group announced that Sarah Segal has joined as Director, Media Relations and Corporate Marketing. Article
Landis Communications, Inc. announced the addition of several new clients. Article
Access Communications and Emanate PR are to merge, creating a $35m operation that aims to shake up the midsize agency sector. Article
Vevo has named Jon Carvill as vice president of communications. Article
Fineman PR has promoted two company executives to senior leadership positions: Karmina Zafiro to vice president and Serene Buckley to senior director of content strategy. Article
FoodMinds has opened a third office located in San Francisco, to be led by Laura Cubillos. Article
Luxe announced that Stephen Rocco Rodi has joined the firm from Edelman, as its first Director of Communications. Article
Silicon Valley
Coherus BioSciences has appointed Juliana Reed as vice president, government affairs. Article
Atlanta & New York
Good Scout Group has appointed Erin Dawkins as Managing Director of the organization and Jessica Kirkwood as Senior Strategist. Article
DC & New York
Imre has hired Damian Rintelmann as senior vice president and digital lead. In addition, Jason Burelle has been named associate creative director in the firm’s recently-opened New York office. Article
DC & San Francisco
Chase Communications announced the hiring of former San Francisco Business Times events director Felicia Brown, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s former communications director Jonathan Amar, and communications professional Jill Mierke. Article
Los Angeles & New York
Ephraim Cohen has been named the general manager of the New York office of FleishmanHillard and Mitch Germann has been named GM for Los Angeles. Article
Frankfurt
MSLGroup Poland CEO Sebastian Hejnowski has been promoted to a newly-created role as CEO of the PR network’s operations across Central and Eastern Europe. Article
SEC Relazioni Pubbliche e Istituzionali, has signed an agreement to acquire a 75 percent stake in Kohl Pr – und Partner. Article
Hong Kong
FleishmanHillard has appointed Khoo Yin as the new general manager of its Singapore office. Article
The World Economic Forum has selected Ogilvy Public Relations, Beijing, as the official PR partner of its Annual Meeting of the New Champions for the ninth consecutive year. Article
Text100 has been selected by OMRON to provide content marketing services to raise awareness, educate the market and generate leads. Article
Rice Communications has been appointed by the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) as its public relations agency of record. Article
FleishmanHillard has appointed Magdalene Lee as general manager of its Malaysia office. Article
EON has expanded its service offering and rebranded as EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, designed to reflect its broader mandate as well as its tradition of thought leadership in the stakeholder relations space. Article
Kreab has named Martin Alintuck as managing partner of its Singapore operation. Article
London
Cicero Group has appointed Iain Anderson as its new executive chairman. Article
We Are Social has appointed Lise Pinnell as head of strategy. Article
Bite has appointed Matt Whiting as its new head of digital, and Steve Gradidge as digital and social media consultant. Article
Dr Paul Ballman and I AM Self Publishing have retained Literally PR to support the launch of Ballman’s new book, Red Pill: The Truth About Leadership. Article
AMEC, the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication, has signed an agreement with Gorkana as the headline sponsor of its International Measurement Summit, to be held from 15-16 June 2016 in London. Article
Ogilvy PR has elevated Michael Frohlich to CEO of its EMEA region. Article
Drayson Technologies has appointed five agency partners to launch its latest venture: CleanSpace, a technology-enabled movement for better air quality. Article
Suzanne Ellis has joined Lansons as a senior consultant to help build on the consultancy’s growing change and employee engagement services. Article
Construction Industry Solutions (COINS) has appointed technology PR specialists Firefly Communications to handle international public relations promoting the COINS Construction Industry Grand Challenge. Article
New Sparta Asset Management has appointed Montfort Communications as its communications adviser. Article
One Green Bean has taken over sister firm Havas PR London. Article
The International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) has unveiled a new international framework for measuring communications performance, the Barcelona Principles 2.0. Article
Audi has appointed We Are Social as its retained strategic and creative social media agency in the UK. Article
Cicero Group has appointed Kate McAndrew from Sky News as senior counsel to work across the agency’s corporate and public affairs practices. Article
Stonehage Fleming Family & Partners has appointed Montfort Communications as communications adviser after a competitive pitch. Article
Battenhall has appointed three new consultants to its London team, including Bradley Tubb, Dom Whitehurst and Jonny Atter as account manager. Article
Reputation Institute has launched its new Reputation Tracker service in the United Kingdom, providing companies with continuous measurement and quarterly reports on their corporate reputations. Article
Four Communications Group has acquired financial and professional services public relations agency Broadgate Mainland. Article
Paris
Hanover has hired Claudia La Donna to head its digital policy offering in Brussels. Article
Llorente & Cuenca has acquired 60 percent of Cink, a digital innovation consultancy. Article
Sydney
InsideOut Public Relations has been elected a partner in IPREX. Article
Dheeraj Realty has appointed DDB Mudra Group for its creative mandate, GolinOpinion (formerly known as LinOpinion GH) for online and offline PR, and Activ Eight Dimensions for media planning. Article
Edelman has completed its acqusition of Dubai firm Dabo & Co. Article
Talent International has appointed Sefiani as communications agency for the 2015 Talent Unleashed Awards, held in Sydney on 11 September. Article
Etihad Airways has named Hareb Al Muhairy as its new senior vice president, corporate and international affairs. Article
GCC Board Directors Institute has appointed Hill+Knowlton Strategies as content partner for a period of three years. Article
Tokyo
MSLGroup has appointed Sei Naganuma as digital lead and Takakazu Nozumi as consultant in Japan, strengthening the firm’s digital and planning. Article
Toronto
InfiniteLatitude has added a presence in Canada with the addition of ps creative communications in Toronto. Article
Strategic Objectives has been named PR agency of record for DMTI Spatial. Article
International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) has retained Shinn Communications Canada as its Public Relations Agency of Record for both Canada and the U.S. Article
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